Convincing Lina: A Bachelor of Shell Cove Novel (The Bachelors of Shell Cove Romance Book 2)

by Siera London

  “This is BETAS mother, BEYAS.”

  “BEYAS,” he smirked in question.

  “Momma’s, Beat Your Ass Stick.” Lina’s height came from her father’s side of the family, thus her mother’s petite baton. She watched him rolled his eyes heavenward.

  “Keep it with you. It’s the perfect size to keep with you at all times,” her mother said.

  Lina kissed her mother goodbye.

  They were exiting the driveway when it occurred to Lina they didn’t have any snacks in the car for the nine hundred miles to their destination.

  “Wait,” Lina blurted out.

  “You okay?”

  “Yeah, I forgot something I need.”

  “What? I can buy you whatever you need on the road.”

  “I need something to eat. Food relaxes me.”

  “I thought that was my job?” Images of their hot tub session flooded her mind and her body heated by ten degrees. Unwilling to step on that landline she changed the subject.

  “Yeah, just let me grab some water and snacks for the road. I don’t know how well we’ll be received in small town America at two o’clock in the morning. It’s best to be prepared.”

  He nodded. Gideon may not have a problem with being seen with an African-American, but she was willing to bet the good folks in small town America were probably not as tolerant as the tourist haven of Shell Cove.

  “Be right back.” Lina exited the car with Gideon stepping out on the opposite side.

  “I don’t need your help.”

  “Not out of my sight.” Finding the front door locked they rounded the house, Lina snagged the side door key from its hiding place and entered the dark utility room. She could hear her mom talking.

  “You promised to keep her…”

  “Momma?”

  Deanie’s screech rivaled a scolded cat. She dropped the cordless phone, and it clattered on the linoleum kitchen floor, spinning in circles before coming to a halt.

  “Lina, you scared the crap out of me.”

  “Who’s on the phone?”

  “Oh, it’s Bishop.”

  “Let me say goodbye.” Lina reached for the phone. “Hello?”

  Silence greeted her, but she knew someone was on the line. Then the call dropped. Her mother stood like stone, eyes closed, her breathing slow and deep.

  “He hung up.”

  “Why would he do that?” Her mother’s eyes popped open.

  “Cell phone reception is unpredictable. Why did you turn around, baby?” Reminding her of why she’d entered the house.

  “Sorry about scaring you. We need some food for the road.” Gideon entered through the side door with a fierce look on his face.

  “I heard a scream,” he said looking to her.

  “Oh, I spooked Momma when I let myself in the house.”

  “I’ll pack you a cooler,” Deanie said before disappearing behind the open refrigerator door.

  Lina smiled up into Gideon’s troubled expression. Was he upset because of the delay?

  “We’ll be on the road in a few minutes.” This was more than a road trip, this was a journey of trust. Gideon would keep her safe but could she trust him with her heart?

  It wasn’t every day you call a woman’s mother a liar. Bernadean James was hiding something. The scene in the kitchen replayed in his mind for the first four hundred miles. Marines are trained to think the same in basic, Bishop wouldn’t hang up without talking with him or Lina. He knew his sister was in danger. And more importantly, Gideon knew the type of man Bishop was. Regardless of the newness of their relationship a Marine would never walk away from someone in need.

  When he parked the Cadillac next to the four pick-up trucks lined in front of the main house it reminded him how much he didn’t belong here. He never wanted to return to this place.

  He roused Lina from sleep, “We’re here.”

  “Dang it, why did you let me fall asleep. Now, I don’t know how to get out of here.” Stepping from the car he released the Crossbill bird call Jacob Rice taught him the first month he came to live at the house.

  An answering Nuthatch, Tern, and Harlequin calls carried through the air. Only Caleb and D.Wright’s calls were missing.

  “What was that?” Lina asked.

  “A mountaineer text message,” he grinned, rounding the car to open her door. “Something Jacob taught us boys to keep track of one another.”

  “You all make bird sounds?”

  “Not sounds, sweetness. We each have a unique bird call. The ranch sits on one hundred acres of mountains, streams, and flatlands. When we hunt, it helps to signal our location.”

  “You are a true mountain man.” It was the first time those words had been directed at him with a touch of pride.

  “Is that a problem?” He studied her. If driving through the town had her alarmed, meeting the locals would have her on the next helicopter home. Waverly Falls was quaint enough that it didn’t warrant mass transportation.

  “Gideon, your name is synonymous with a lot of words in my vocabulary. There isn’t a problem with one of them.” Their eyes met, and the trust reflected in them, swelled in his chest like she had given him a new lease on life. She had given him her trust.

  “Heard what you said about not knowing the way back.” Before he could tell her she wasn’t leaving, not without him, his father and three of his brothers came riding up on their mounts.

  “Are those real cowboys?”

  Gideon laughed.

  “Come on sweetness, let’s get you introduced to the Rice family.”

  “The country boy gladiators are your brothers?”

  “There’s a girl that’s not too far behind.”

  His father, adoptive father he corrected himself, was the first to dismount and approach him.

  “Glad to see you, son.” They both stood at an odd standoff.

  “You too.” He remembered the child he’d been standing here on West Virginia soil. Unwanted. A hand-me-down kid taken in by Jacob and Emma Rice.

  Reaching back toward Lina, he waited until she took his hand.

  “This is my…,” he hesitated unsure if Lina would be comfortable with the title of his woman.

  “Hi, I’m Lina James.” Gideon glanced over to find Lina’s expression unreadable.

  “I’m Jacob. I owe you a big thank you for bringing my son home, young lady.” Lina was the only one to laugh.

  “These are my sons, Phoenix, Thane, and Ian.” Jacob pointed his finger right to left. “Phoenix is the baby of the bunch.” Phoenix offered a salute in greeting. With his tanned complexion, striking Native American features and ink black hair to his mid-back he’d always been a hit with the women in town. He looked every bit the survivalist he was. Phoenix was a born hunter. Guns, knives, or arrows. If it was deadly, he’d mastered it.

  “Honestly, Dad, you can stop introducing me as the baby. At thirty-one years old no one would mistake me for a baby,” Phoenix said.

  Lina chimed in, “I can see you’re not a baby.” She was flirting with his brother. To add fuel to the fire, Phoenix winked at her. Ian and Thane, not to be outdone, added their I’m a man roar.

  “Knock it off.” Gideon growled. He pinned each man with a steel eyed glare, before he looked to Jacob. Jacob, who studied him with a knowing awareness. The weight of his stare had Gideon grinning his teeth.

  “Leave your brother’s woman alone, boys.” He hated that Jacob could read him so easily.

  “Oh no, Gideon and I aren’t–”

  “Where’s Caleb?” He blurted out, interrupting Lina before she inadvertently set one of his brothers up for a beating that would be recorded in the history annals.

  “He’s working on a case. He’ll fly in tonight,” Thane answered. Caleb was a contract penetration tester. A male escort was the first image that populated into his brain years earlier when Caleb promptly educated him that was the industry terminology for a computer hacker. If he was on the job, a big fish was involved.

&nbs
p; Thane dismounted, crossed to where he and Lina stood in front of the car, and shook Gideon’s hand. He gave Lina a quick glance from head to toe before meeting her eyes.

  “I’m the brother that plays dirty.” Lina tilted her head in askance. Gideon ground his teeth. This would be one heck of a visit.

  “Jacob told you to leave her alone.” He felt fingers curl around his wrist, before Lina’s scent filled the air around him. She’d moved in close, pressing into his side. Her physical reassurance calmed the jealous Neanderthal that was about to make a fool of himself. “Thane owns a demolition and construction company.” Thin, slender fingers slipped between his and he squeezed.

  “Gideon gave me the okay to take care of the damages to your place. I’m leaving for Shell Cove in the morning.” At Lina’s furrowed brow, Thane grinned.

  “Looks to me like the Marine is still keeping secrets.”

  “There are no secrets. Gideon told me you would be taking care of the repairs. You surprised me by announcing that you are leaving tomorrow.” Thank heaven above, that Lina hadn’t seen the frown on Jacob and Ian’s face.

  “It seems I’m the one that is surprised, Lina.” Gideon remembered all over again why he hadn’t visited in ten years. He didn’t want to relive the past. Living life as an open book was best left to preachers and politicians. Looking at the men before him meant his Book of Life had been pulled out of the archives.

  Ignoring Thane’s comment, Gideon introduced the last of the Rice clan. “The Nordic blonde is Ian. He’s the ambulance chaser.” Because Ian was an ass and three inches shorter, he rode forward on his mount, flaunting his temporary height advantage.

  Tipping his muted black Stetson, “Now, is that any way to talk about the lawyer handling your…” Gideon was at the end of his rope before and this was just the meet and greet.

  “Shut up and welcome Lina.” He snapped at Ian, but the weight of hardened stares boring into him said every man knew his words were meant for all of them.

  “Thanks for not making me feel like a stray,” Lina’s smile lightened his sinking mood. “I like the Waverly Falls hospitality already.” Gideon raked his fingers through his hair, scoring his scalp. This was a disaster. He cleared his throat searching his muddled brain for a subject that would lighten the conversation.

  “The Rice family loves strays.” Gideon winced when the sting of his statement burrowed in his chest. Lina turned narrowed eyes on him. Heck, her silent reprimand echoed in his ear.

  “Mr. Rice, Gideon and I have been traveling more than twelve hours. We’re both tired.”

  “Please call me Jacob and there’s no need to make excuses for Dr. Rice,” Jacob emphasized the Rice name, reminding him he’d made the decision to change his name to Rice in spite of knowing they were not his family. The lesser of two evils, better to bear the name of your rescuer than the woman who abandoned you.

  Gideon had not prepared her for meeting his family. The Rice family was like a multicultural version of Dallas. Any minute JR would come walking out of the big house.

  A rider approached on a caramel colored horse with a white streak down the animal’s nose. Lina was surprised to see a dark skinned woman swing down from the horse.

  “If it isn’t our head shrink.” The foreign accent was another surprise. The woman with a figure and complexion similar to Lina’s walked over to Gideon and threw her arms around his waist.

  “Welcome home, Gideon. I missed you.” What the flagnoid? Did Gideon have a big butt, black woman fetish?

  “Nai, this is Lina James.”

  “Hi Lina, my name is Nairobi, but these guys refuse to add two syllables. It’s nice to meet you.” Lina didn’t share the sentiment.

  “Thank you, Nairobi. Are you a sister?” Lina was phishing. Hoping this woman was a part of the Rice rainbow coalition.

  “Nah, I just work and live here.” Lina didn’t know what to think. Was Nairobi an old flame? She felt nauseous. Lina must have fallen and bumped her head to leave Shell Cove and follow Gideon to the West Virginia hills. What did she really know about his past? She looked up at Gideon to find him studying her. A furrow formed between his brows.

  “You okay, sweetness?” She nodded her head glancing anywhere but at his face.

  “Lina and I are headed up to my room. It was a long drive and we’re both exhausted.”

  She didn’t say a word. Just followed behind Gideon blindly.

  “Tell me what’s wrong, Lina. You look like you just lost your best friend.” Had she come to Waverly Falls, only to be left behind again?

  “I’m achy from the long car ride. Nothing a hot shower won’t solve.”

  Lina walked beside him, as he kneaded her neck muscles.

  “I’ll fix all your aches and pains after we shower.” Gideon led her around the tree line to a red brick mansion that sat in the middle of green grass and mountains for as far as her eyes could see. A billboard with a smiling Jacob was posted in front of the house. The board read, Elect Jacob Rice for Mayor. Jacob was running for office. She didn’t see that one coming.

  Gideon glanced up at the sign, never missing a step. As if it was a routine occurrence for your father to be running for a public office.

  A concrete patio with a circle painted in blue and outfitted with strategically placed ground lights caught her eye.

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s a helicopter pad.”

  “Your family owns a helicopter?”

  “West Virginia is mountain country. In the winter the roads can be difficult to travel. Helicopters are a necessity.”

  “Can you fly it?”

  “We all can fly, but Jacob and D.Wright are the most skilled.”

  “I thought your family was poor.”

  “My family was poor. The Rice’s are the wealthy family in these parts.”

  “Gideon, they are your family. Just because you don’t have the same blood–”

  “You’re tired,” he cut her off. “Let’s go on in the house. We can talk later.” The glare she turned on him said he would not enjoy their next conversation.

  Chapter 14

  Gideon felt as if Lina was light years away from him. He watched as she pulled a clear travel bag with personal items from her purse. She examined the contents before dropping the bag onto his king sized bed.

  He’d outgrown a queen sized bed before he hit puberty. His room hadn’t changed since the last time he’d been home. Someone had updated the comforter from his blue and gray sports team colors to a hunter green. Probably Nai’s attempt to keep Emma’s memory alive. West Virginia clay and crisp air seemed to permeate the room. Lina, who normally appreciated everything around her, was still absorbed in the contents of her travel bag. He took her shoulders, turning her to face him.

  “Lina talk to me.” She smiled up at him, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.

  “What do you want to talk about?” She asked dropping her gaze to the floor. He loved that she was a terrible liar. She didn’t want to talk.

  “Whatever is bothering you.” Gideon placed a finger under her chin, raising her head until she made eye contact.

  “You’re upset. Why?” As he studied her face he noticed the frown lines around her mouth.

  “I’ll be fine.” She was upset with him. Why else would she refuse to tell him what was wrong?

  “Lina, I know you’ll be fine. You can take care of yourself. What I’m asking is for you to trust me with your feelings. Maybe I can help.” Getting Lina to make a place for him in her life was like moving a mountain with a serving spoon.

  “Are we going to be okay here?” What the heck did that mean? He pushed a few strands of hair behind her ear.

  “You and I are going to be okay wherever we are. Don’t ever doubt that.” He placed a kiss on her forehead.

  “Gideon you tell me we are good. I believe you.” He looked into her eyes, trying to find the source of her doubt.

  “Something has happened since we arrived that bothered you.�
� She took in a deep breath, nodding her head.

  “If my brothers or Jacob are the cause, we are out of here.” A confused look crossed her face.

  “No, it’s not them. I like your family.”

  “The Rices’ are good people,” he said. And Gideon meant every word.

  “Gideon, why are you so reluctant to accept them as your family?” He felt the stiffness infuse his muscles.

  “I’m not reluctant.” He bit out. How had this conversation morphed into a talk about family?

  “What are you afraid of?”

  “Lina, just drop it, okay. You look exhausted and I’m too tired to talk about me and the Rice family.”

  “Your family loves you.”

  “Don’t you think I know that?” He grounded out.

  “If you know it, then why are you scared to love them back?” His heart was pounding in his chest. How had she gathered a lifetime of information on his familial bonds standing in the front yard? Lina was one heck of a psychiatric nurse.

  “Sweetness, I would love to spend tonight making you feel good.” He was easily distracted by sex, maybe the tactic would work on Lina.

  “I have a question for you doctor.” He regarded her with wary eyes.

  “Ask your question.”

  “How can a man fall in love with a complete stranger, yet can’t find the capacity to love the people that have cared for him for most of his life?” Ah, heck. He’d walked into her word trap.

  “Love is a bottomless emotion, Gideon. It doesn’t diminish because you’re sharing it with more than one person.” He pulled her into an embrace.

  “I don’t want to talk anymore.” He held her close. Hoping that what she said was true.

  “Now, who’s upset?”

  He shook his head. “I’m not mad.”

  “Good, because I still want my massage.” Somehow, their conversation had improved Lina’s disposition. He on the other hand, had some soul searching to do.

  “Take your clothes off and lie down on the bed.” He released her when she stepped out of his embrace.

  “Okay.” He watched as she discarded her T-shirt and sweat pants. Lina reached behind her back and unfastened her bra.